Injection cap

Abstract

To provide an injection cap which can jet a content fluid in a mist form, and can prevent the dripping of the content fluid from a jetting hole.SOLUTION: An injection cap 1 comprises: a cap body 2 including a top wall part 2f having a jetting hole 2g, a peripheral wall part 2e connected to the top wall part 2f and partitioning an internal space N between the top wall part 2f and itself, a communication groove 2k provided at the inner face of the peripheral wall part 2e and extending along a shaft line O and a spin groove 2m provided at the inner face of the top wall part 2f and at least partially curved between the communication groove 2k and the jetting hole 2g; a movable body 3 stored in the internal space N and moving between an advance position to approach the jetting hole 2g and a retreat position to separate from the jetting hole 2g; and a bottom body 4 having a communication hole 4b leading to the internal space N and held by the cap body 2 to check the falling of the movable body 3 from the internal space N.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispensing cap that is attached to the mouth of a flexible container. [Background technology]

[0002] Squeeze containers are known in which the content liquid in a flexible container is poured out by squeezing the container. Some of these squeeze containers are equipped with a pouring cap that can spray the content liquid in the form of a mist.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a pouring cap that can spray the liquid content in the form of a mist from a spray hole when the container is squeezed with the bottom lid closed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6351470 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in this type of dispensing cap, the spray hole is relatively small, so the liquid content tends to accumulate near the spray hole, and therefore the accumulated liquid content may drip down after it has been sprayed.

[0006] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a pouring cap that can spray the liquid contents in the form of a mist and prevent the liquid contents from dripping from the spray hole. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides a pouring cap to be attached to the mouth of a flexible container, comprising: a cap body including a top wall portion having an ejection hole, a peripheral wall portion connected to the top wall portion and defining an internal space between the top wall portion and the peripheral wall portion, a communication groove provided on an inner surface of the peripheral wall portion and extending along an axis of the peripheral wall portion, and a spin groove provided on the inner surface of the top wall portion, the spin groove being at least partially curved between the communication groove and the ejection hole; a movable body that is accommodated in the internal space and moves between an advanced position that approaches the nozzle hole and a retreated position that moves away from the nozzle hole; The pouring cap comprises a bottom body having a communication hole that communicates with the internal space and is held by the cap body to prevent the movable body from falling out of the internal space.

[0008] It is preferable that the cap body has a stopper that comes into contact with the moving body when it has moved to the advanced position, and prevents the moving body from blocking the spin groove. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the pouring cap of the present invention, when the container is tilted and squeezed, the liquid content flows from the communication hole through the communication groove and then through the spin groove, swirling as it flows, and is sprayed from the nozzle in the form of a mist. The movable body, which has moved to the forward position by the ejection of the liquid content, moves to the retracted position when the container is moved to an upright position as the ejection of the liquid content ends, or when squeezing the container is stopped and the pressure of the liquid content returns to its original state. In other words, when the movable body moves from the forward position to the retracted position, a space is created between the movable body and the nozzle, and the liquid content near the nozzle is drawn back into this space, preventing the liquid content from dripping from the nozzle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a pouring cap according to the present invention, showing the state in which the pouring cap is attached to a container. [Figure 2A] 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the nozzle hole shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA shown in FIG. 2A. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the bottom body shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which the container is tilted and squeezed. [Diagram 5] 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the container has been displaced to an upright position after the squeeze has been stopped following FIG. 4. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, a description will be given of a dispensing cap 1, which is one embodiment of the dispensing cap according to the present invention, with reference to the drawings. In this specification and the like, the up-down direction refers to the direction along the illustrated axis O (the central axis of the peripheral wall portion described later). The radial direction refers to the direction perpendicular to the axis O in a plane perpendicular to the axis O, and the circumferential direction refers to the direction rotating around the axis O in this plane.

[0012] The pouring cap 1 of this embodiment is attached to a container P shown in Fig. 1 when used. The container P is made of synthetic resin and shaped like a bottle, with a storage space S for storing the liquid inside. The body P1 of the container P is flexible and can be squeezed. A cylindrical mouth P2 is provided at the upper end of the body P1, and an outward claw P3 protruding radially outward is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the mouth P2.

[0013] The pouring cap 1 of this embodiment further includes a cap body 2, a movable body 3, a bottom body 4, and a lid body 5.

[0014] The cap body 2 has an outer peripheral wall 2a surrounding the mouth portion P2. The inner surface of the outer peripheral wall 2a is provided with inward claws 2b that protrude radially inward. The cap body 2 is attached to the mouth portion P2 by plugging, and when plugging is performed, the inward claws 2b engage with the outward claws P3, and the cap body 2 is held in the mouth portion P2. Note that the structure for attaching the cap body 2 to the mouth portion P2 is not limited to such a plugging structure, and may be, for example, a screw connection in which a male thread is provided in the mouth portion P2 and a female thread is provided in the outer peripheral wall 2a.

[0015] A top wall 2c extending horizontally is provided at the upper end of the outer peripheral wall 2a. A circular ring-shaped seal wall portion 2d extending downward is provided on the lower surface of the top wall 2c. When the cap body 2 is attached to the mouth portion P2, the seal wall portion 2d comes into liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the mouth portion P2, thereby preventing the content liquid contained in the storage space S from leaking out from between the mouth portion P2 and the cap body 2.

[0016] The upper surface of the central portion of the outer peripheral wall 2a is provided with a stepped cylindrical peripheral wall portion 2e that extends upward and has a larger diameter at the bottom than at the top, and a top wall portion 2f that is connected to the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 2e. A circular ejection hole 2g is provided in the center of the top wall portion 2f, penetrating it in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 2A, the center of the upper surface of the top wall portion 2f is lower than the peripheral portion.

[0017] 2A and 2B, the lower inner surface of the peripheral wall 2e is provided with a lower inclined portion 2h that extends radially inward. The portion where the peripheral wall 2e and the top wall 2f are connected is provided with an upper inclined portion 2j that extends radially inward. The upper inclined portion 2j is a portion that corresponds to the "stopper" in this specification. Here, the space defined inside the peripheral wall 2e and the top wall 2f is referred to as the internal space N.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the inner surface of the peripheral wall portion 2e is provided with a communication groove 2k that is semicircular in bottom view and extends upward. In this embodiment, a total of two communication grooves 2k are provided so as to face the axis O. Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the inner surface of the top wall portion 2f is provided with a spin groove 2m that extends linearly from the communication groove 2k and then extends circularly while curving around the ejection hole 2g. Note that the linearly extending portion of the spin groove 2m extends so as to incline upward (incline with respect to the axis O) as it moves radially inward from the communication groove 2k as shown in FIG. 2A, and the circularly extending portion of the spin groove 2m extends at the same height (within a plane perpendicular to the axis O) as shown in FIG. 2A.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the outer peripheral wall 2a is provided on the lower surface in the center thereof with an annular retaining portion 2n that extends downward and has a lower end that protrudes radially inward.

[0020] In this embodiment, the movable body 3 is spherical and has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the peripheral wall portion 2e. The movable body 3 is disposed inside the internal space N and is movable along the axis O.

[0021] The bottom body 4 is shaped generally in a disk shape as shown in Figures 1 and 3. A cross-shaped bridge portion 4a is provided in the center of the bottom body 4, and a total of four communication holes 4b are provided inside the bridge portion 4a. As shown in Figure 1, the bottom body 4 is held by the holding portion 2n with the movable body 3 disposed inside the internal space N.

[0022] The lid 5 has a disk-shaped lid top wall 5a and a lid outer peripheral wall 5b extending downward from the outer edge of the lid top wall 5a. The lid 5 of this embodiment is integrally formed with the cap body 2 by a bendable hinge h connecting the outer peripheral wall 2a and the lid outer peripheral wall 5b. Note that the lid 5 is not limited to being connected to the cap body 2 by the hinge h in this manner, and may be, for example, a lid body 5 having a male thread portion on the cap body 2 and a female thread portion on the lid 5, and held to the cap body 2 by screw connection.

[0023] In addition, the lid body 5 has an annular outer seal portion 5c that contacts the large diameter portion of the peripheral wall portion 2e and an annular inner seal portion 5d that contacts the small diameter portion of the peripheral wall portion 2e when the lid body 5 is in the closed position as shown in FIG.

[0024] In order to eject the liquid contained in the container P from the dispensing cap 1 having such a configuration, the lid 5 is displaced to an open position, the container P is displaced to an inclined position, and the body P1 is squeezed as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, the liquid contained in the storage space S is pressurized and introduced into the internal space N through the communication hole 4b. At this time, the moving body 3 moves toward the ejection hole 2g as shown in FIG. 4 due to its own weight and the pressurized liquid. The moving body 3 that has advanced forward stops when it comes into contact with the upper inclined portion 2j. Hereinafter, the position where the moving body 3 comes into contact with the upper inclined portion 2j is referred to as the "advance position". When the moving body 3 moves to the advance position, the moving body 3 does not come into contact with the inner surface of the top wall portion 2f, and therefore the spin groove 2m is not blocked by the moving body 3 that has advanced forward. The liquid introduced into the internal space N passes through the inside of the communication groove 2k while being guided by the inclined lower inclined portion 2h, and then passes through the straight portion of the spin groove 2m shown in FIG. 2B, and flows while swirling in the circular portion of the spin groove 2m, so that the liquid is sprayed in the form of a mist from the ejection hole 2g. As described above, the straight portion of the spin groove 2m extends at an angle to the axis O, and connects the communication groove 2k extending along the axis O with the circular portion of the spin groove 2m extending in a plane perpendicular to the axis O. That is, this straight portion allows the liquid flowing through the communication groove 2k to flow smoothly toward the circular portion of the spin groove 2m.

[0025] After the liquid content is ejected, the squeeze of the body P1 is stopped. This reduces the pressure of the liquid content, and the ejection of the liquid content from the ejection hole 2g is also stopped. Then, when the container P is displaced to an upright position as shown in FIG. 5, the moving body 3 moves downward as shown in the figure due to the pressure reduction of the liquid content and its own weight, and stops when it comes into contact with the bridge portion 4a. Hereinafter, the position where the moving body 3 comes into contact with the bridge portion 4a is referred to as the "retracted position". When the moving body 3, which has moved to the forward position, moves to the retracted position, a space is created above the moving body 3. In other words, the liquid content that has accumulated around the ejection hole 2g is pulled back into this space, so that the liquid content can be prevented from dripping from the ejection hole 2g. Note that even when the moving body 3 moves to the retracted position, the communication hole 4b is not blocked by the moving body 3, and therefore the liquid content that has accumulated between the moving body 3 and the bottom body 4 does not hinder the movement of the moving body 3 when the moving body 3 moves to the retracted position.

[0026] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the spirit of the present invention described in the claims unless otherwise specifically limited in the above description. For example, the configuration of the above-mentioned embodiment can be appropriately added or deleted, and the configuration of one embodiment can be applied to another embodiment. Furthermore, the effects of the above-mentioned embodiment are merely examples of the effects resulting from the present invention, and do not mean that the effects of the present invention are limited to the above-mentioned effects.

[0027] For example, the movable body 3 is not limited to being spherical as shown in the figure, but may be cylindrical or elliptical. In addition, the spin groove 2m has a straight portion in this embodiment, but may be entirely curved without any straight portion. In addition, in this embodiment, the upper inclined portion 2j extending so as to incline upward as it moves radially inward is provided as a stopper for stopping the movable body 3 at the forward position, but the stopper is not limited to being inclined in this manner, and may be one that extends horizontally. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1: Marked cap 2: Cap body 2a: Outer peripheral wall 2b: Inwardly directed claw portion 2c: Top wall 2d: Seal wall portion 2e: Peripheral wall portion 2f: Top wall portion 2g: Ejection hole 2h: Lower inclined portion 2j: Upper inclined portion 2k: Communication groove 2m: Spin groove 2n: Holding portion 3: Moving body 4: Bottom body 4a: Bridging portion 4b: Communication hole 5: Cover body 5a: Top wall of the cover body 5b: Outer peripheral wall of the cover body 5c: Outer seal portion 5d: Inner seal portion N: Internal space O: Axis P: Container P1: Barrel portion P2: Mouth portion P3: Outwardly directed claw portion S: Accommodation space h: Hinge

Claims

1. A pouring cap to be attached to the mouth of a flexible container, a cap body including a top wall portion having an ejection hole, a peripheral wall portion connected to the top wall portion and defining an internal space between the top wall portion and the peripheral wall portion, a communication groove provided on an inner surface of the peripheral wall portion and extending along an axis of the peripheral wall portion, and a spin groove provided on the inner surface of the top wall portion, the spin groove being at least partially curved between the communication groove and the ejection hole; a movable body that is accommodated in the internal space and moves between an advanced position that approaches the nozzle hole and a retreated position that moves away from the nozzle hole; A pouring cap comprising: a bottom body having a communication hole that communicates with the internal space and that is held by the cap body to prevent the movable body from falling out of the internal space.

2. The pouring cap according to claim 1 , wherein the cap body has a stopper that comes into contact with the moving body when the moving body is moved to the forward position and prevents the moving body from blocking the spin groove.

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